PRE-ABORTION HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKIST

Be absolutely certain that you are pregnant before you make an appointment for an abortion. Things other than pregnancy may delay your menstrual period.

Understand that an abortion may involve taking potent medications or having surgery. The techniques used may impact your health and well-being. You have the right to receive accurate information before you proceed with the abortion.

Have the doctor explain the technique that he or she recommends to you.

Know and understand the physical health risks associated with the abortion technique that is recommended to you. The immediate and long-term effects should be explained to your level of understanding.

Ask about the possible risks:

Infection
Infertility
Hemorrhage or excessive bleeding
Perforation of the uterus or bowel (intestine)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Incomplete abortion
Breast cancer linkage (especially if your family history involves breast cancer)

You have the right to know what is being removed from your body.

During the 1st trimester, the developing human baby grows very rapidly and experiences significant changes in appearance and size. At conception - The baby receives 23 chromosomes from each parent encoding the sex, hair and eye color as well as the body and personality type.

21 Days - The foundation of the brain, spinal cord and nervous systems is already established. The heart begins to beat.

28 Days - The backbone and muscles are forming along with the arms, legs and eyes.

6 weeks - The brain begins to control movements of the muscles and organs.

8 weeks - At this stage of human development the baby is called a fetus (Latin for unborn child); everything is now present that will be found in the adult stage of development.

10 weeks - The developing baby can squint, swallow and suck its thumb.

12 weeks - The developing baby now sleeps and actively moves the head, toes, fingers and hands.

Know that the abortion carries possible emotional, mental and psychological trauma and/or stress. Initially, many women report feelings of relief following an abortion. However, some women begin experiencing unpleasant symptoms weeks, months or even years after an abortion. These symptoms can include:

Feelings of grief, sadness, regret, depression or anger
Dreams about aborted child
Emotional distress when seeing others babies or pregnant women
Emotional distress around the anniversary of the abortion
Emotional distress around the time of the "would-be" due date
Inability to bond emotionally with partner (75% break-up post-abortion)
Difficulty in bonding and mothering future children
Sexual inhibitions
Thoughts of suicide

Ask the Name of the Doctor performing the abortion
The fact that abortion is legal does not guarantee a high standard of medical care. Abortion clinics may not volunteer the name of the doctor unless you insist on knowing it. Remember, the procedure you select may require surgery. You need to know the name of the surgeon in case of complications or if malpractice issues arise.

Check the record of the doctor performing your surgery for previous malpractice lawsuits settled against him or her. In Maryland, call Health Claims Arbitration Office, Department of the Attorney General of the State of Maryland: (410) 767-8201. Otherwise, check with the Office of the Attorney General in your area.

Know that abortion is ELECTIVE surgery. It is surgery that you choose rather than one that is medically necessary. You can change your mind at any time, right up to the time the abortion has begun. Just say, "STOP!" Don't be pressured into having surgery that you do not want.

You should be able to receive BOTH pre- and post-abortion counseling as part of your overall care. Ask ahead of time whether these services are available. If not, choose another abortion provider.

Understand you legal rights AFTER an abortion. An abortion clinic might insist that you sign a statement saying you will not hold the clinic or doctor liable for damages, which might occur because of the abortion. However, this document has virtually NO legal authority. If you are injured during the abortion, you retain your right to seek financial compensation in a court of law, regardless of what you signed.

INFORMED CONSENT ISSUES